A tawny, sleek, somber-looking actress, of French and Vietnamese extraction, Nuyen made her film debut at 19 as Liat in the film version of "South Pacific" (1958) and in the 1960s was briefly promoted as an exotic type. She also starred on Broadway in the title role (learned phonetically, because her English was still very shaky) of the popular "The World of Suzie Wong". After making the middling features "Diamond Head" (1962), "A Girl Named Tamiko" (1962) and "Dimension 5" (1966), Nuyen worked largely during the 70s and 80s in forgettable TV-movies like "The Horror at 37,000 Feet" (1973), "Deathmoon" (1978) and "Jealousy" (1984). She had better luck with her role as the dignified, compassionate Dr. Kiem on the final two seasons of the acclaimed NBC medical drama, "St. Elsewhere".Having completed graduate work in psychology, Nuyen began a second career as a therapist in 1986, but renewed feature film work beckoned in the early 90s, most notably a role as one of four mothers who bond with their daughters over mah jongg in Wayne Wang's "The Joy Luck Club" (1993).
Profession(s):
Actor, artist's model, therapist
Sometimes Credited As:
France Nguyen Van-Nga
Family
daughter:Fleur Morell (Father, Thomas Morell)
father:Louis Vannga (Vietnamese)
husband:Robert Culp (Met while appearing on his TV show "I Spy" (NBC); married from 1967-1970)
husband:Thomas Morell (Married from 1963-1966)
mother:Julie Vannga (French)
2003 Featured in "The Battle of Shaker Heights"
1993 Portrayed one of the mothers in the family drama "The Joy Luck Club"; based on the novel by Amy Tan
1990 Had a recurring role on "Knots Landing"
1990 Returned to feature films to play a leading role in "China Cry"
1989 Appeared on the NBC daytime drama "Santa Barbara"
1986 - 1988 Had a recurring role on the final two seasons of "St. Elsewhere" (NBC) as Dr. Paulette Kiem
1973 Featured in the fifth and final film "Battle for the Planet of the Apes"
1968 Again cast opposite William Shatner in an episode of "Star Trek" as the memorable Elaan of Troyius
1963 Cast opposite Charlton Heston in the film "Diamond Head"
1962 Appeared in the film "A Girl Named Tamiko" opposite Laurence Harvey
1958 Made theatrical debut in the title role of "The World of Suzie Wong" opposite William Shatner
1958 Made feature film debut in the adaptation of the Broadway musical, "South Pacific"
1955 Discovered by the LIFE photographer Philippe Halsman on the beach
Moved to New York from Marseilles to begin a career as a model